While it finished 2-2 at Anfield, Liverpool’s 1-0 win at the Etihad put them through.

Now the Dutch star wants Kenny Dalglish’s side to ­destroy the cup hopes of the red side of ­Manchester, too, by knocking them out of the FA Cup tomorrow.

The old enemies clash at Anfield in what promises to be an explosive fourth-round tie, the first time they’ve met since the Luis ­Suarez race row erupted in ­October.

Kuyt said: “We can be happy about what we have achieved, in reaching Wembley.

“We are all desperate to challenge for a ­trophy. It’s a while since we won one.

“When you come to Liverpool you want to play in finals. To play at Wembley is something every player dreams about and I can’t wait.

“But we have to put that aside because there’s another massive game coming up against United. It would be great to knock them out as well.

“We are used to playing every three days, from when we were playing in Europe in the Champions League. It’s great to have two great games in a week. We are all focusing on the next game and are desperate to win.

“We set the benchmark against City. We have to make sure we play with the same ­effort and I’m sure we will be fine.”

The Dutchman is convinced his wait for a ­winners’ medal is about to come to an end.

They will face Cardiff in their first trip to Wembley since 1996 and first major ­final ­appearance for five years.

The Holland star joined the Reds in 2006 and thought he would have at least one piece of silverware to polish at home by now.

But Kuyt has become the ‘nearly man’ of Anfield after failing to win a trophy. And ­being second best has started to wear thin.

Kuyt has suffered more heartbreak than most, losing the Champions League Final to AC Milan in 2007 as well as Champions League and Europa League semi-finals.

He was also part of the Reds side that ­finished runners-up in 2009 to United in the Premier League, despite losing fewer games and securing a club-record haul of points.

Kuyt, who also suffered heartbreak with Holland in the 2010 World Cup Final, has had to be more ­patient than most.

But this week’s triumph has convinced him he is about to become a winner at last.

He said: “I’ve been close. I’ve been here a while now and it’s not enough to be ­second. Hopefully the ­Carling Cup can be a first trophy with many more to follow.

“We’ve been a nearly team during my time here, but sometimes it’s like that in football. You have to make sure you give everything.

“We have been very close and sometimes a bit ­unlucky. But that’s behind us, we can’t change it.

“What we can change is the future and hopefully the ­trophies will come. It’s great to be in the final, but now we are there, we want to win it.

“It’s important for a club like Liverpool to be back in contention for these trophies. That’s what Liverpool Football Club is all about.

“When I first arrived here nearly six years ago, I came here to win trophies. That’s the spirit of the players, the manager and the club.”